iBooks Author Layouts - Default Blank Template
In this tutorial, we will take a close look at the iBooks AuthorR template, in preparation for building our own custom template for a children's board, picture or chapter book. The first step is to examine the default Blank template and explore all of the design elements on each page.
The Blank template has several preset layouts and we need to see what elements we can customize. To see the layouts, just click View - Show Layouts in the Menubar.
Chapter Layout
As you can see, in the Chapter section, we have one Chapter layout that contains a Chapter Cover page and one Chapter Default page. Although these pages appear to be empty, neither of these pages are really blank. The Chapter Cover page has a one-column text box containing the chapter header text of "Chapter". Below that is a larger two-column text box, which carries over to another two-column text box on the Chapter Default page. At the bottom of both pages is a thin one-column text box, containing an auto updating text field, which will display the current page number. All of the text boxes are the same width.
Chapter Cover Header Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Light Typeface
48 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1.2 Line Spacing
Body Text Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
16 Font Size
Black Text Color
Left Aligned Text
1.2 Line Spacing
Page Number Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
13 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Section Layout
In the Section section, again we have a two-page spread, containing a Section Cover page and a Section Default page. The Section Default page has the same layout as the Chapter Default page, which is the two-column text box and one-column auto updating page number text box.
The Section Cover page has a different layout, containing a header text box and two one-column text boxes. Why not use the usual two-column text box? As you can see, the header text box takes up some space on the left half of the page, making the text box below shorter than the text box on the right. So, in order to have two columns on the page, we need to use two text boxes of different heights. Again, this page has the one-column auto updating page number text box.
Section Header Title Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Light Typeface
36 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Section Header Number Style (auto numbering text)
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
18 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Body Text Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
16 Font Size
Black Text Color
Left Aligned Text
1.2 Line Spacing
Page Number Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
13 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Continue
The Blank template has several preset layouts and we need to see what elements we can customize. To see the layouts, just click View - Show Layouts in the Menubar.
Chapter Layout
As you can see, in the Chapter section, we have one Chapter layout that contains a Chapter Cover page and one Chapter Default page. Although these pages appear to be empty, neither of these pages are really blank. The Chapter Cover page has a one-column text box containing the chapter header text of "Chapter". Below that is a larger two-column text box, which carries over to another two-column text box on the Chapter Default page. At the bottom of both pages is a thin one-column text box, containing an auto updating text field, which will display the current page number. All of the text boxes are the same width.
Chapter Cover Header Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Light Typeface
48 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1.2 Line Spacing
Body Text Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
16 Font Size
Black Text Color
Left Aligned Text
1.2 Line Spacing
Page Number Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
13 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Section Layout
In the Section section, again we have a two-page spread, containing a Section Cover page and a Section Default page. The Section Default page has the same layout as the Chapter Default page, which is the two-column text box and one-column auto updating page number text box.
The Section Cover page has a different layout, containing a header text box and two one-column text boxes. Why not use the usual two-column text box? As you can see, the header text box takes up some space on the left half of the page, making the text box below shorter than the text box on the right. So, in order to have two columns on the page, we need to use two text boxes of different heights. Again, this page has the one-column auto updating page number text box.
Section Header Title Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Light Typeface
36 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Section Header Number Style (auto numbering text)
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
18 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Body Text Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
16 Font Size
Black Text Color
Left Aligned Text
1.2 Line Spacing
Page Number Style
Helvetica Neue Font
Regular Typeface
13 Font Size
Black Text Color
Centered Text
1 Line Spacing
Continue
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